Homelessness Minister Threw Out Her Tenants – Then Increased Rent by £700 a Month

Labour Homelessness Minister Rushanara Ali threw four tenants out of her east London townhouse before relisting the property for £700 a month more in rent, amid calls for her to resign. The i Paper has the story.

The landlord MP has previously spoken out against “private renters being exploited” and said her Government will “empower people to challenge unreasonable rent increases”.

Labour’s Renters’ Rights Bill, which will become law next year, prohibits landlords who have ended a tenancy in order to sell a property from relisting it for higher rent until at least six months after tenants have moved out.

A source close to Ali said her tenants’ had been told their tenancy would not be renewed and were offered the chance to stay on a rolling contract before she put the house up for sale – and the property was only relisted for rent after she did not find a buyer.

A spokesperson for Ali said: “Rushanara takes her responsibilities seriously and complied with all relevant legal requirements.”

Conservative Shadow Housing Secretary, James Cleverly, called on Ali to consider her position, saying the allegations “would be an example of the most extreme hypocrisy and she should not have the job as Homelessness Minister”.

Last March, Ali rented out the four-bedroom townhouse, less than a mile from London’s Olympic Park, for £3,300 a month.

Tenant Laura Jackson, a self-employed restaurant owner and one of four people who rented the property, received an email in November telling her their lease would not be renewed and giving them four months’ notice to leave.

Just weeks after they had left the property, Ms Jackson saw the house had been put back up for rent at nearly £4,000 a month. When the i Paper visited the property on Wednesday new tenants confirmed they had moved in “four or five months ago” and were paying around £4,000 a month.

Ms Jackson, 33, told The i Paper: “It’s an absolute joke. Trying to get that much money from renters is extortion”.

The property was managed on Ali’s behalf by two lettings agencies: Jack Barclay Estates and Avenue Lettings.

At the time of ending the tenants’ contract, the firms also attempted to charge Ali’s tenants nearly £2,000 for the house to be repainted and £395 for professional cleaning.

Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, landlords are prohibited from charging their tenants for professional cleaning.

They are also prohibited from charging tenants to repaint a home unless serious damage has occurred. Minor scratches or scuffs to paint work should be considered “reasonable wear and tear”, according to the Act.

Worth reading in full.

Stop Press: Ali has resigned.